Railroad-tie



G. H. TOMB. RAILROAD HE. APPLICATIOKFILED MM, 9. I921.

' 1,3 1,441 Patented June 14,1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

7 GRANT H. TOMB, OF SLATE RUN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JACOB G. TOMB, OF SLATE RUN, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILROADTIE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GRANT H. TOMB, a citizen of the United States, residing at Slate Run, in the county of Lycoming and State of Pennsylvania, have invented oertaln new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Ties, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accom- 'panying drawings. 1 0

It is the purpose of the present invention to, provide, a tie constructed of relatively heavy sheet m'etal in one piece, tubular and rectangular in form and provided with a central opening through which the ballast of the roadbed engages, in order to anchor the tie in position, there being wood or other 7 fiber supporting-base blocks for therails quickly andeasily remove the wood or fiber.

vcarried by the tie.

Another purpose is to provide a tie of this character whichwill facilitate the construction of a railway, and also the repairing of the same, since a workman can very base blocks, so that others can be inserted.

Furthermore, the wood or fiber base blocks may be treated with some suitable water proofing material, such as oil or the like, so as to resist the decay of the blocks and permit them to last for a considerable length of time.

Still another purpose is to provide means on the interior of the hollow rectangular the central ballast filled opening of the tie, 35.

tie, wherein the central relatively yieldable or pliable, so that the tie to prevent the moisture which may enter from reaching the wood blocks.

A further purpose is the provision of a art of the tie is end portions of the tie may give coincident to the weight-of the rolling stock. It has been found that in a tie of, this character w it is comparatively easier to remove a tie l bed. Furthermore the wood or fiber base "blocks may be very easily and quickly removed, without disturbing the construction of the road bed.

While the design and ns ruction at pres- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 1 119 14, 1921,

Application filed March 9, 1921. Serial No. 451,006.

claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the lmproved tie constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail view.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the body of the tie as a whole, and which is constructed of relatively heavy sheet metal, therefore it is not only capable of assuring strength and rigidity, but also assuring resiliency or yicldability at its central portion, whereby the ends of the tie may give incident to the weight of the roll ing stock.

The tie is rectangular and tubular in form, and 1s provlded with transverse central openings 2, through which the ballast or the road bed engages in order to anchor the tie in position. The upper and lower walls 3 and 4 of the tie are sufiiciently pliable or flexible, to permit the end'portions of the tie to yield incident to the weight of the rolling stock. The upper and lower walls 3 and 4 are conneoted by means of a division wall 5, which may be riveted or otherwise connected to the walls as shown, as by welding in the usual manner or by means of spot welding, or riveted. However, if the tie is constructed of malleable iron or malleable steel in sheet form, in fact cast of such material, the wall 5 may conform with vthe upper and lower walls 3 and 4;.

The end portions of the tie, which are also hollow and rectangular in construction receive wood or fiber rail supporting base fastened in position by means of screws 8 (which engage through the upper wall of the tieand partl into the bases or blocks) and the bolts 9 which extend through the upper walls of the tie, entirely through the bases or blocks, and then through the bottom walls of the tie), to insure holding the bases or blocks in position.

In producing aitie of this character, it entirely eliminates the useof clamps or special devices, for holding the rails to the tie. In fact the rails, as shown at 10 are secured to the bases or blocks in the usual manner, as for instance by means of spikes 11; V

In order toinclin e the rail in the curve of the track, it depending upon the direction of the curve, the upper face of one of the blocks 'or bases is recessed or cut away by means of an adz or other suitable tool, for positioning the rail according to the curvature of the track. In short the upper base of the recess or cut away portion of the "block is inclined, so as to incline the rail.

In order to separate the central space of thetie fromthe spaces which receive the bases or blocks, the interior of the tie is provided with partition walls 12, which may be welded by the usual method, or spot welded or otherwise secured in position. B

means of these walls 12, it will be noted that the moisture which may enter the central pocket orspace adapted for the reception of the ballast, will be prevented from entering the pockets or spaces which contain the rail bases or rail supporting blocks. In fact the only place where the moisture may enter the pockets is where the upper parts of the blocks or bases are exposed, adjacent the recesses of the upper walls of the tie, and if treated with some suitable water proofing solution, it is possible to prolong the life of the blocks, as the water proofing material will resist'the weather'and thereby prevent the blocks from decaying or rotting. As the upper and lower walls of the central portion of the tie arepliable, the end 7 portions of the tie are capable of yielding or giving, and in such wise as not to materially affect theroad bed.

In the old construction of a railroad tie,

it is difficult to reconstruct the road bed as 7 well as jacking up the-tie to permit the road bed'to be built up. In repairing the ordinary road bed it is more or less neces sary to move the ties, to build up the bed and insert new ties. Also by means of the central opening receiving the ballast of the road bed, keeps the tie in position, as well as solid, and at the same time prevents the ties from moving laterally, hence avoiding the tracks getting out of alinement.

There is a disadvantage in using a solid tie or casting, in that it isvery difiicult and hard to keep the tracks in alinement, as well as keeping the solid tie in position.

In a tie of the present character, it is possible for a single man to repair'several ties, say for instance five or six ties by changing the blocks and arranging the ties in a very short time say for instance a day or bases or fiber blocks, so that others may be inserted. The fiber blocks 'may be con-T structed of any suitable material, for instance any suitable wood, and maybe constructed in any proportion suitable for the purpose. It has been found in the construction of a tie of this character, it is further possible to construct a relatively small size tie, and yet provide as much support and durability to' the rails, as in the case of all wood ties. A certain amountof the ballast or road bed may engage within the ends of the tie, acting to more securely hold the tie in position. V

The bolts 9 are inserted downwardly through the upper wall of the tie, throu h thewood or fiber rail supporting base bloc s 6, and have their lower ends threaded in the lower wall of the tie, so as to hold the parts together. It is obvious that the bolts may be removed by unscrewing them from their upper portions, permitting the'wood blocks to be withdrawn, and replaced by others, without disturbing the position of the tie.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed as being useful is: r

1. A railway tie, comprising a tie body constructed of relatively heavy malleable sheet metal, said body having a central openi probably less, whereas in changing all wood As previously stated in this I ing provided with upper and lower pliable walls, said body having end pockets with rail supporting fiber blocks therein, the upper parts of the tie being cut away to expose the 5 blocks, whereby the rails may engage therewith, and means for separating the pockets from the central opemng and preventing moisture from passing from the central opening to the pockets, means for securing the blocks in place.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

GRANT H. TOMB. 

